<span class="highlight">Caravan</span> length

Generally, it will be the body length, either internal or external.

You have to look at the van, and take your tape measure with you if any of the measurements are critical for you Johnny. All are different. With many, it is the internal measurement but that can vary between floor length and cabin length. Some use the external body measurement. For some reason they seem to have stuck with feet, but some quote metres. Rarely is the drawbar included and because of varying lengths of drawbars, it would give no indication of living space.

I was told recently by a dealer that it is the external body length. Not draw bar.

Yes agree with all the above replies. Generally outside body length in feet. Also generally the draw bar and any spare wheel etc on the rear is not included.
On my current van I ordered a19ft. but when I collected it from builder it was 19ft internal. Why they did and still quote that I have never had explained.

Need to ask that question of supplier.

John.

I have always believed the length referred to internal length. Certainly applied to an earlier Supreme I had, and to the Crusader I currently have. Regards

It varies between manufacturers Our 2006 Roadstar was advertised as 21.6 but was 19ft inside.
Our 724 Coromal was 7240mm outside and 30F 6in hitch to rear bar.

ALWAYS ASK WHICH IT IS.

There's no standard whatsoever for caravan measurement - and the figures you're given, all depend on how rubbery and stretchy the tape was, when the manufacturer measured it!

Manufacturers fib about length because it's such an abstract figure with no Australian Standard.
It's mind-boggling in this day and age of regulation, red tape and Standards laws, that there isn't a precise Standard for measuring a caravans length.

Why people still quote feet in the length, when we have been partly metric from the late 1960's, and fully metric since 1976, also astounds me. It's like the Americans are running our caravan industry.

The quoted length of caravans many decades ago, was the overall exterior length of the caravan body, measured one foot above the floor line.
Then some manufacturers produced curvey shapes for the front and rear, and started measuring the longest part of the curved section, front to rear.

I'd be amazed if any manufacturer actually quoted their length as internal, as that immediately puts them at a distinct sales and marketing disadvantage.

If a caravan manufacturer is honest, they will provide a plan showing all dimensions, internal and external, exactly as vehicle manufacturers do.

It's a good idea to run the tape over everything you're looking to buy, and also know all the precise dimensions of your 'van, once you own it.

The reason being - if booking into a caravan park, you will often be asked your caravan length - and if you are travelling on the ferry to Tasmania, or having your 'van transported on a truck, they will want the overall length measurement, from the tip of the hitch to the rearmost projection.

Cheers, Ron.

Our New Age van is 16' - but that is internal. The body measure 17'6" external and it is 7.5 metres from towball to rear bumper.